If you have lived in Nairobi long enough, you know this: when you’re caught up in traffic in major Nairobi Highways and matatus are fighting for an inch of space, the one thing that will always snake its way out is a boda boda. No traffic is too tight, no road is too narrow, give them two seconds and they will find a way.
But hold up. Where did this boda boda thing even start?
So, What Exactly Is a Boda Boda?
A boda boda is a motorcycle taxi (once upon a time, it was bicycles). In Kenya and much of East Africa, bodas are the quickest, cheapest, and sometimes, the only way to get around. If you are running late and need to get to work, rush to class, or carry home a week’s worth of groceries, there is always a boda boda waiting by the roadside.
The name has a fun backstory. In the 1960s and 1970s, at the Kenya–Uganda border, young cyclists ferried people across the strip of “no man’s land” that separated the two countries. To attract passengers, they would yell “border! border!”. Over time, the phrase slurred into boda boda. When motorcycles became more accessible in the 90s, bicycles were swapped for motorbikes, and the business exploded across East Africa.
More Than Just a Ride
Today, boda bodas are at the heart of Kenyan mobility. They move school children, office workers, tourists, farm produce, construction material, and, believe it or not, sometimes chickens, sofas, or even goats (yes! really). For riders, it is not just transport; it is a living, it is a hustle, it is a way to support families. For passengers, boda bodas offer convenience and speed in a city where traffic jams could easily eat half your day.
The Love-Hate Relationship
Of course, it is not all rosy. Anyone who has ever held their breath while their rider squeezed between two buses knows. Bodas can be thrilling and terrifying at the same time. They bend traffic rules and sometimes ride like both the rider and passenger have nine lives. Helmets are optional, and if you are lucky, Insurance might be available. Still, most Kenyans (and brave tourists) cannot resist hopping on, because when you need speed, boda is bae.
Why Boda Boda Diaries?
Boda Boda Diaries is our space to talk about it all: The history, the culture, the hilarious and scary stories, and how tech is changing the ride game. Think of it as your backstage pass into East Africa’s most loved (and feared) form of transport.
What’s Next?
Coming up in the next chapter, we are going straight to the riders themselves. What is their daily hustle like? How do they survive Nairobi traffic wars? And what stories do they carry on the back of their motorbikes? Trust me, you don’t want to miss this ride.
Follow along on VisitNairobiKenya.com for more stories, city guides, and insider tips on experiencing Nairobi like a local.